Explosive-engine.



F. w. WILLIAMS EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8; IQHi- RENEWED APR- 7. 1917- 3. 252,?5?Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET F. W. WILLIAMS.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED APR; 8. l9l6- RENEWED APR-7.1917-},53? Patented Jan. 8,1918.

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F. W. WILLIAMS.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8. 1916. RENEWED APR-1.1911.

Paten Jan, 8, 1918.

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Witnesses o w vim mam,

FREDRIC W. WILLTAMS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 JOHN P. BANNAN, OFNEW YORK, N. Y.

ExrLosIvE-nnGmE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 8, 191 8.

Application filed April 8, 1916, Serial No. 89,909. Renewed April 7,1917. Serial No. 160,539.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDRIC W. VVIL- LIAMs, a citizen ofthe UnitedStates, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, have invented certain new .and useful Improvements inExplosive-Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention has for its object to provide an improved type ofexplosive engine embodying a plurality of radiating cylinders having acommon combustion chamber and reciprocable pistons operating against theinterior of a rotating element.

Another object is the provision of an en.- gine of this type in whichthe cycles of each series of cylinders are performed simultaneously,thereby minimizing the number and complexity of such working parts ofthe engine as the valve, valve operating mechanism, etc.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will behereinafter specifically described, claimed and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which:

Figure 1 represents a vertical central sectional view through theimproved engine,

Fig. 2 represents a vertical sectional view therethrough, partly brokenaway, taken at right angles to Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 represents a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 represents a vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 represents a fragmental detail sectional view through the engine,illustrating the timer mechanism in edge elevation, and

Fig. 6 represents a fragmentary sectional View on. the line 6-6 of Fig.4.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar reference numerals designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10indicates a base on which is supported a pair of uprights 11,constituting a support for a relatively stationary and horizontallydisposed shaft 12. Intermediate the bearings or supports 11, the shaft12 is formed with an enlarged portion 13, having four equidistant radialrecesses 11, forming continuations of the bores of a correspondingnumber of radiating cylinders 15, which are bolted or otherwise rigidlyand detachably secured to the enlarged portion 13 of the shaft. Thesubstantially rectangular chamber provided at the point of intersectionof the recesses 14 constitutes a combustion chamber 16 common to each ofthe four cylinders 15. Pistons 17 are reciprocably mounted within thecylinders 15 and are provided with radially projecting piston rods 18extending forwardly through and slidably mounted in detachable heads 19secured in the outer extremities of the cylinders 15, for guiding thereciprocating movement of the piston rods 18. -The cylinder walls 15 arepreferably formed with water chambers 20 communicating with passages 21formed in the shaft 12 for effectively cooling the cylinders duringoperation of the engine.

A wheel 22 is rotatably supported by integral and relatively removableside plates 23 and 21, respectively, upon the shaft 12, the plates 23and 24 being arranged upon the opposite sides of the enlarged portion13. The wheel rim 22 is formed with an internal groove or channel ofsubstantially polygonal formation, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1,having a number of straight plane surfaces 26 corresponding in number tothe number of cylinders 15 and connected by the curved portions 27. Oneside wall of the groove 25 is formed by a ring 28 secured internally ofthe wheel rim 22 and is spaced a sufiicient distance from the oppositeside wall of the groove 25 to accommodate the bearing rollers 29rotatably mounted in the outer extremities of the piston rods 18.Longitudinal ribs 30 are formed upon the piston rods 18 and are receivedwithin recesses formed in the apertures in the heads 19 receiving thepiston rods whereby the latter are prevented from turning or twistingduring operation. Spaced strips or tracks 31 are secured to the innersurface of the wheel rim 22 and the ring 28 and engage the innerportions of the rollers 29 to retain the latter in the groove 25.

The supporting shaft 12 is formed with a longitudinal bore in which arearranged partitions 32 and 33, forming the end walls of the combustionchamber 16 and having the inlet and exhaust ports 31 and 35,respectively, therein. The portion of the bore of the shaft extendingoutwardly from the ofa partition 32 constitutes an inlet passage 36 foradmitting gaseous fuel to the combustion chamber 16, and the passage offuel through the ports 34 is controlled by a valve 37, carrying a stem38 slidably supported in a bracket 39 and having a coil spring 40positioned thereover, which engages the bracket 39 at one end and apivoted valve operating lever 41 at the opposite end. The lever 41 1spivotally secured at 42 to a plate 43 secured to the upper portion ofthe relatively stationary shaft 12, one end of the lever extendingdownwardly through a radial slot 44 formed in the shaft and the oppositeend being pivotally. connected at 45 with a horizontally disposed pushrod 46. The push rod 46 is slidably mounted in a guide 47 and supportsat the inner end thereof a roller 48', which is adapted to be engaged byeither one of a pair of diametrically opposed cams 49 projectinglaterally of the removable side plate 24, whereby the lever 41 isoscillated during operation of the engine and the inlet valve 37intermittently opened.

The passage of the exhaust products of combustion from the combustionchamber 16 through the port 35 is controlled by an exhaust valve 50,carrying a stem 52, which latter is slidably supported in a bracket 53secured in the bore of the shaft 127 The outer extremity of the valvestem 52, which projects into the exhaust passage 54, is pivotallyconnected with a valve operating lever 55, and is normally retained inclosed position by the tension of a spring 56. The lever 55 is mountedin an opening 57 formed in the shaft 12, is pivotally supported upon aplate 58 secured to said shaft and is pivotally connected at its upperterminal with a horizontally disposed push rod 59, which latter ismounted in a guide 60 secured to the shaft 12. A bearing roller 61 ismounted in the inner terminal of the push rod 59 and is adapted to beengaged by either one pair of diametrically opposed cams 62 projectinglaterally of the outer surface of the side plate 23, during rotation ofthe wheel 22 to effect an intermittent oscillatory movement of the lever55 and a corresponding opening and closing movement of the valve 50. V

A preferred type of spark plug 66* is secured in the wall of thecombustion chamber 16 and is connected by a conductor 67 with one poleof the magneto 64. The opposite pole of the magneto 64 is connected by aconductor 68 with a spark retarding and advancing lever, 69, pivotallysecured at 70 to a bracket 71 secured to the relatively stationary shaft12 and insulated therefrom by an insulator 72. An adjustable springcontact 73 is secured to the lever 69 outwardly of the pivotal axisthereof and is adapted to be intermittently engaged with 0.

pair of rotary contacts 74 carried by the adjacent plates 23, wherebyone side of the circuit from the magneto 64 to the spark plug 66 iscompleted through the conductor 68, bracket 71, lever 69, spring contact73, rotary contact 74 and the engine in which one electrode of the sparkplug 66 is grounded in the usual manner; In the diagram illustrated inFig. 5, the portion of the engine electrically connecting one of theelectrodes of the spark plug 66 with the 1, the rotary wheel 22 is ondead center with relation to the piston rods 18, however, as themomentum of the wheel carries the latter in the direction of the arrowin Fig. 1 the plane surfaces 26 of the groove 25 move into angularposition with relation to the piston rods 18, and thus when theexplosion in the combustion chamber 16 occurs the consequent outwardmovement of the pistons 17 and rods 18 effect a rotary movement of thewheel 22. As the rotary movement of the wheel 22 is continued the nextsucceeding plane surfaces 26 are moved into engagement with the rollers29 of the piston rods 18, thus effecting an inward movement of thepistons 17. During their inward movement, the pistons 17 eject theproducts of combustion from the bores of the cylinders and the exhaustvalve 50 is automatically opened by one of the earns 62- and the lever55 associated therewith, thereby permitting the exhaust products ofcombustion to escape through the exhaust passage 54. Durin thesucceeding outstroke of the pistons 1% the intake valve 37 isautomatically opened by one of the cams 49 and lever 41 associatedtherewith. An explosive charge is thus drawn into the chamber 16 andcylinder bores. The explosive charge is subsequently compressed duringthe subsequent instroke of the pistons 17 and is ignited at the propertime by an electric spark produced by the spark plug 66.

What I claim is:

1. In an explosive engine, a base, a relatively stationary shaftsupported upon said base, a plurality of cylinders rigidly secured toand projecting radially of said shaft, pistons reciprocably mounted insaid cylinders, piston rods carried by said pistons, heads secured inthe outer extremities .tangular internal groove provided with roundedcorners and receiving the outer termlnals of said plston rods.

nals of said rods.

3. In an explosive engine, a relatively stationary shaft having alongitudinal bore, a pair of spaced partitions arranged within said boreproviding a combustion chamber and having ports therein, valves arrangedin said ports, a plurality of cylinders radiating from said shaft andcommunicating with said combustion chamber, piston reciprocably mountedwithin said cylinders, rods carried by said pistons, a wheel rotatablysupported upon said shaft having a substantially rectangular internalgroove receiving the outer terminals of said rods, and means operable bysaid Wheel for actuating said valves.

4. In an explosive engine, a relatively stationary shaft having alongitudinal bore, partitions arranged in spaced relation Within saidbore providing a combustion chamber and having ports therein, aplurality of cylinders radiating-from said shaft and coinmunicating withsaid combustion chamber, plstons reciprocably mounted in said cylindersrods carried by said pistons a wheel rotatably supported upon said shafthaving a substantially rectangular internal groove receiving the outerterminals of said rods,

cams carried by said wheel, levers connected with said valves, meansnormally retaining said valves in closed position, and means carried bysaid levers adapted to be engaged by said cams for intermittently andalternately actuating said valves.

5. In an explosive engine, a relatively stationary shaft having aninternal combustion chamber, means for admitting an ex-.

plosive charge to said combustion chamber means for exhaustin theroducts of combustion from said combustion chamber a plurality ofcylinders radiating from said shaft and communicating with saidcombustion chamber, pistons reciprocably mounted within said cylinders,rods carried by said pistons, a wheel including side plates rotatablysupported upon said shaft, said wheel having a substantially rectangularinternal groove receiving the outer terminals of said rods, a guidableelectric machine supported upon one of said cylinders, a pinion carriedby said machine, an annular gear wheel having inwardly directed teethmeshing with said pinion, a spark plug secured 1n the wall of saidcombustion chamber, a pair of rotary contacts carried by said wheel, aconnection between one of the electrodes of said spark plug and saidmachine, a connection between the operative pole of said machine andsaid lever and a spring contact carried by said lever adapted to beintermittently engaged by the rotary/contacts to close the circuit tothe electrodes of said spark plug.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDRIC W. WILLIAMS. Witnesses:

Gnonon Hnno'r, III, EDWARD A. JEFFREY.

